Lambert the Llama is the latest pattern in my Farm Series! You can checkout all my Farm Series patterns right here on my blog or purchase the PDF with hints and tips for all through my Etsy. The free blog pattern doesn’t contain all my hints/tips or photographs like my paid patterns, but it does give the basics. Lambert and his full PDF is found HERE.
Lambert is the 8th animal in my Farm Series. Did you meet Haybelly the Horse? Or Digger the Donkey? I also have Barley the Beagle and Butterbean the Bunny with a free addition to her pattern for her baby, Clover. And the three patterns before this one were the sweet Dixie the Duckling, Cocoa the Cow, and Peaches the Pig.
UPDATE: I have finished setting up my 14-Pattern Bundle Set for one low price. You can see more HERE
You can also purchase BUNDLES of these patterns at a reduced price. I have my first four on a bundle HERE and the second four HERE and if you purchase any of these two, I will send you baby Clover for FREE if you send me a message from Etsy after your purchase.
This pattern is intended for personal use only. This pattern -and all my patterns- are offered for free or a small fee to help support my family so please do not redistribute, sell, copy or use them in any way not in accordance with fairness.
You may sell products made from this pattern, but please give me credit as the designer. Please do not use my photos as your own work, but you may use my photos to reference back to my blog, Etsy, Pinterest, IG or FB, but please link back to me.
If you find any problems with this pattern please let me know and if you have any problems with any of it feel free to message me and ask for support.
Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket, 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to me, Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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I thought I would never get Lambert finished! With gardening and baseball and life this one took a while to get written. I even carted in around in the car when my husband drove – like those away baseball games. And this is my favorite bag when my project has to travel with me! It’s the perfect project size and I can see all that is inside and when I take it places and people see inside it starts conversations. I love this bag. I have several for organizing different projects.
… and then there was making his hair. I really felt like I needed to make video tutorials on how I did this because I am not sure how common it is to add the hair after with surface crochet.
Materials: *see note below photos
A small amount of Premier Everyday Yarn in Cream for the nose.
A small amount of Yarn Bee Cloud 9 yarn in Cream for the white hair above nose
1 skein of Premier Everyday Yarn in Chinchilla
1 skein of Touch of Alpaca by Lion Brand in Taupe
1 skein of Yarn Bee Snuggle Up in Mink (fur yarn for hair)
*A note on the materials I used: I wanted to use this Lion Brand Alpaca yarn for my Llama/Alpaca. It seemed the perfect choice! And I do love it, but after I got the head started and then finished, I realized this yarn (while it is a #4) worked up smaller than RHSS or Caron One Pound like I usually use. In addition to working up smaller, it didn’t have the same “sturdy” factor that I really needed for the body to hold the neck and the fur. So, I chose to add a second strand of yarn in WITH the body. I used both a strand of the alpaca and the Premier Everyday in Taupe held together. They were a perfect match. I changed nothing else except I used my H hook size and my pattern is the same, but I wanted to caution you that if you choose different materials your Llama may work up to be a slightly different size. So, if you choose to use, for example, Caron One Pound (my preferred amigurumi yarn choice) – your head, legs and ears may be a bit larger and the body a bit smaller. I don’t think this will be any disadvantage to making this pattern, so if you want to do a cream or white llama and use something else, I am going to give you the finished measurements of my body parts so you can adjust your parts to be close to the same proportions. If you do use a single 4-ply yarn please use your G hook.
Here are Lambert’s numbers:
Head from nose to back: 10-11”
Ears: 3”
Front legs (arms): 8”
Legs: 9”
Body/neck: 12.5”
-Hook : I used a G hook for this pattern except for the ears. I used my I hook for them. *and what I noted about the body when I switched to my H for two strands
-Safety Eyes or buttons (or yarn to embroider if you choose) and needle to embroider face. These are the eyes I have used for Lambert. I opted not to use the colored part. These are really nice and come in a lot of sizes and colors.
-Stuffing. I have used Poly-Fill brand stuffing, but feel free to use what you prefer.
POOL NOODLE – this is a Styrofoam type floating pool noodle you get in the kids/pool/outdoor toy area at Walmart for less than $1. They are 2” wide. This is a big part of Lambert. He has a long neck and a heavy head so you will need to add something to support his head on such a long neck. If you have no way to get a pool noodle you might need to improvise by use foam hair rollers and tying several into a “log” or rolling a piece of fabric up stiff, etc. His neck will need supported.
– I don’t use Stitch markers, but if you do you will want those to keep track of your rounds. As a “free” stitch marker you can loop a bright colored piece of scrap yarn through your stitch to act as a marker – then just pull it out when you get back around to it and move it up one row. Easy marker!
If you are new to crochet or just want to upgrade your supplies this is a fabulous kit. I have this kit – it comes with all you see and it a great price for the quality.
SPECIAL TECHNIQUE: I have done some video tutorials and placed them on my You Tube channel for attaching the fur yarn AFTER the body is done. This is not the normal thing to do so I felt it needed video tutorials. Fur yarn can be very difficult to work with in crochet so this method not only is easier, but it saves you yarn. There are 4 parts to this. Here are those links for you if you need a video tutorial:
Stitches Used:
Chain: Ch
Single Crochet: SC
Inc Sc: make two single crochet stitches in the same stitch as indicated
Invisible Decrease: inv. dec. – this is an invisible single crochet decrease
Special Surface crochet/chains. Video tutorial on You Tube under “Lambert the Llama” – there are 4 parts. Links above.
I start my work with a chain 2 and then sc in second chain from hook, but you can also start with a magic ring if you prefer that start.
This pattern starts with nose and then changes color to head and then the body is worked. I will make notes along the way to assist with this.
Nose: (I used a Cream color) – if you are making a solid color Llama/Alpaca then there is NO need to change colors where I have done.
| Row/Round | Stitch Count/Number |
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 18 |
| 4 | 24 |
| 5 | 30 * my mouth is embroidered between this round and the next. I usually work a few more rounds and do my mouth and nose at the same time and tie my ends off inside before continuing. |
| 6 | 36 |
| 7 | 42 |
| 8 | 48 |
| 9 | 54 |
| 10-18 | 54 |
| 19 | 48 |
| 20 | 48 |
| 21 | 42 |
| 22-23 | 42 |
| 24 | 36 |
| 25 | 36 *I changed color on this last stitch to my Cloud 9 cream fuzzy yarn. I know a lot of people hate this yarn, but its only a few rows. If you are really opposed to crocheting with it that is A-ok! Just match your fuzzy nose hair color to a regular yarn and use that here instead. You just want your nose hair color to blend. |
Head
| Row/Round | Stitch Count/Number | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 26-27 | 36 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | 24– on this last stitch I switched to my Alpaca yarn. My eyes are placed between this round and the next – between where I change colors. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 31 | 30 *from this point on stuff as needed | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 32 | 36 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 33 | 36 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 34 | 42 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 35 | 48 *ears go around here. About 5-6 rounds behind the eyes. You need to sew them on BEFORE adding hair. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 36 | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 37 | 54 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 38-47 | 54 *now we decrease and close. I use an invisible decrease | ****this is where I stopped for a little while and did Lambert’s white loop chains around his face and eyes. I do have a VIDEO TUTORIAL ON THIS. I also have a photo tutorial on this AT THE END OF THIS PATTERN | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 48 | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 49 | 42 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 50 | 36 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 51 | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 52 | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 53 | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 54 | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 55 | 12 *FO with a tail to sew the opening closed. |
Ears(make 2): *I used my I hook for these.
| Row/Round | Stitch Count/Number |
| 1 | 5 *I just do my one increase at the beginning of the round. |
| 2 | 6 |
| 3 | 7 |
| 4 | 8 |
| 5 | 9 |
| 6 | 10 |
| 7 | 11 |
| 8 | 12 |
| 9 | 13 |
| 10 | 14 |
| 11-13 | 14*FO leaving long tail. Gather in half at the bottom and fold up to sew |
Body: I used the same color from the back of my head for the body. I feel that you need to probably use the same color from back of head as you do the body to make your sewing blend in and be invisible. It will require good sewing for this head because it is large. You do not want to do all this work and then have visible sewing stitches. The body starts from the bottom up and we leave an opening at top for the neck. You want to pin your head in place and make sure to stuff the neck VERY well before final stitches to support the head. This large head needs lots of support. *most of the neck “stuffing” should be the pool noodle.
| Row/Round | Stitch Count/Number |
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 18 |
| 4 | 24 |
| 5 | 30 |
| 6 | 36 |
| 7 | 42 |
| 8 | 48 |
| 9 | 54 |
| 10 | 60 |
| 11-20 | 60 |
| 21 | 54 |
| 22-23 | 54 |
| 24 | 48 |
| 25-26 | 48 |
| 27 | 42 |
| 28-29 | 42 |
| 30 | 36 *stuff as needed. Keep in mind that your pool noodle will fill up most all of the neck space. |
| 31-32 | 36 |
| 33 | 30 |
| 34-35 | 30 |
| 36 | 24 |
| 37-46 | 24*leave super long tail to sew on the head. |
The next part may be new for you. You are going to insert your pool noodle after you have your body stuffed like you want. My pool noodle is in the body and neck so I just used my long Tunisian crochet hook and hollowed out the center of the stuffing by pushing it out and making a hollow – then push the pool noodle in as far as you can and use your small scissors or a razor knife to cut around the noodle. After you cut the noodle you can pull up the crochet part of the neck over it a little and add a little stuffing.
I think it is much easier if you ATTACH YOUR HAIR NOW BEFORE YOU ADD LEGS. THIS WAY THEY WON’T BE IN YOUR WAY.
I have 4 parts of a video tutorial on my You Tube channel if you are not familiar with how to chain and do some surface crochet around for the fur. Links posted above.
**I did find that for my fur it worked out very nice to do a “checkerboard” type pattern on my surface crochet where I worked 2 rows at once: do over one stitch and then skip a stitch and move a row down and do that stitch then skip a stich and move a row back up etc. This way I didn’t skip entire rows and just worked every other stitch of so for most of the neck and body. See the last two photos on this pattern to see two more photos of the hair I did on the face. I found with doing the chain loops (just like the white yarn) that it was NOT necessary to do every stitch – I routinely skipped 4-5 rows and several stitches.
Feet/Legs (make two):
| Row/Round | Stitch Count/Number |
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 18 |
| 4 | 24 |
| 5 | 30 |
| 6 | 36 |
| 7-14 | 36 |
| 15 | 30 |
| 16 | 24 |
| 17 | 18 |
| 18 | 18 |
| 19 | 12 |
| 20-49 (30 rows) | 12 *FO leave long tail to sew |
Front Legs/”Arms” (make two):
| Row/Round | Stitch Count/Number |
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 18 |
| 4 | 24 |
| 5 | 30 |
| 6-11 | 30 |
| 12 | 24 |
| 13 | 18 |
| 14 | 18 |
| 15 | 12 |
| 16-45 (30 rows) | 12 *FO but leave long tail to sew |
Draw a strand of yarn up the middle and down the top of the foot and gather the foot up and tie and weave in the ends to make the “hoof”
Tail:
The tail uses my I hook and is the only part that I actually crocheted with the mink fur. I held a strand of my Alpaca and a strand of the fur and crocheted with them both. You most likely will not be able to “see” your stitches if you use materials similar to mine, but you can feel them. And this part is very forgiving so just use a stitch marker and don’t stress too much if you aren’t sure if you got every single stitch right.
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 18 |
| 4 | 24 |
| 5-11 | 24 **FO but leave long tail to sew |
In looking at images of Llamas and Alpacas they have tails either like little balls or kind of flat and hanging down. I chose to do a little ball tail, but you can sew it flat instead. I lightly stuffed mind and sewed on back in a place where Lambert would be able to sit.
Photo tutorial for face chain loop “Hair”
Step 1: Place eyes on the face where you want them. Once you get them positioned where you want you are going to, remove them and add a stitch marker or piece of yarn. I think a piece of yarn here works best so it won’t be in the way.
In the photo above the gray yarn is marking my eye hole. I have then attached the “fur” yarn for hair under the face to start my chain loops. I did chain 5 and slip stitch into a “close” space and chain 5 and slip stitch into a “close” space across the face and around the eye holes and behind the head. I did about 4 rounds around, but you do NOT have to do every single stitch. I skipped across several stitches and several rows. Just “fill” in the face with loops. A lot of this will also depend on the type of fuzzy yarn you use. This Cloud 9 is thick-ish.
For the face “hair” I have just done a series of chain up 4’s and 5’s around the face and around where the eyes are to be placed. After chaining up just do a slip stitch around the next place. It is not necessary to work in every stitch. You will not see this when you are finished. I skipped rows and stitches and just filled in my chains to make it look full. I worked around the face for about 3 rounds with my first furry color. I did chain 7’s around the ears and chain 8’s at the top of the head. You can see in the first photo below that I have pulled back the fur to show you how many spaces I skipped here, but in the full photo of the head it is not obvious at all. This will also largely depend on the type of yarn you have used for this part. Just fill it in without big gaps.
And there is it is! You have your Llama ready to be named and loved. I would love to see all your creations so please tag me @theburgundybasket on IG. And here are a few of my favorite things! Every purchase you make from a click through helps me bring you more free patterns. Thank you.
